Lessons from Venezuela: Working Class Solidarity vs. Imperialist Violence
Rae Lee is a regular at my workplace, a friend of a friend, and an anti-imperialist organizer. Given the US’ January attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty, I became curious about Rae’s recent trip there in early December, convened by Simón Bolivar Institute for Peace and Solidarity Among Peoples.
Age Verification HB-2112: Who Will it Truly Protect?
HB-2112, or the “Keep Our Children Safe Act,” is currently in committee in the Washington State House of Representatives. Its stated mission is “establishing an age minimum to access certain adult content online.” This argument certainly makes a lot of sense in the abstract. After all, we have age restrictions for adult stores and entertainment venues. Still, it is less the intent and more the execution of these laws that makes them so dangerous.
Soft Life, Hard Lessons: The Luxury of Letting Go
“Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. You look ten years younger.”
That’s what a man told me recently, and I had to smile. He didn’t know he was looking at a woman who had survived a tsunami. He didn’t know that just as I had finished a hard, honest conversation with myself about the state of my marriage, a hidden betrayal hit me with a force that nearly annihilated me. I had no time to brace for the impact; I just had to decide if I was going to swim or float away aimlessly.
Teatro ZinZanni Lowers Final Curtain in Seattle
A spiegeltent crafted of wood, canvas, and velvet, adorned with stained glass, vast mirrors, and regal chandeliers overtook an empty lot on Mercer Street. An arching sign marked the threshold of the new world of Teatro ZinZanni, welcoming guests to their first show, Love Chaos and Dinner, which featured a unique cast of acrobats, clowns, and various other talents. What was meant to be an 11-week run sprouted roots and secured ZinZanni as Seattle’s staple circus destination for nearly three decades.
Haunted Burrow Books Cultivates Local Creative Literary Community
The inside of the shop is tranquil, and yes: there are a lot of horror books! And not just from big-name authors— Haunted Burrow Books makes an effort to lift up voices from smaller presses and places special emphasis on local authors and artists. But don’t worry: If horror isn’t your jam, there are other offerings as well, especially in mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy.
Solidarity Power: Strikes Gain Momentum as Leaders Fail Us
Over the past decade, the means of resistance and the analysis and knowledge behind it has visibly shifted. Instead of posting a black box on social media to project discontent, US-ians have learned to hit their targets where it hurts—in their wallets. We are riding the tailwinds of 2023’s Hot Labor Summer, advancing in the momentum of the BDS movement, and recalling the effectiveness of the Tesla Takedown. We are witnessing the rebirth of a generalized United States labor movement.
Letter from the Editor
Friends and Comrades,
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Resistance. What it means, what it looks like, and how it sticks. What is its staying power? What keeps it going?
Soft Life, Hard Lessons: Orbiting, Audacity, and Trusting Your Gut
Welcome back to the laboratory. This week, the research is clear: the “Great Fade-Out" has been replaced by the "Great Orbit," and frankly, I’m running out of space in my atmosphere for all this funk.
Trans* Talk: Academic Freedom
Over the holidays, I was alerted to an unfolding story about a Transgender Oklahoman instructor at the University of Oklahoma who was fired after giving a failing grade to a student. At first glance, this story seemed cut-and-dry—a teaching assistant ousted unfairly due to a bigoted student. But the more I learned, the more that the alarm bells rang.
COVID-Cautious? Safely Enjoy Community with These Events
While it may often seem like the entire world has moved on from the threat of COVID-19, there are always pockets of community support and care to be found! Seattle is home to not only long-standing masked events like Queer Fight Night and Disabled List Comedy Festival, but also to brave one-offs; businesses are reaching out and asking, “Is there any interest in this?” Let’s let them know that the answer is a resounding yes! Even as the world grows more and more perilous, we must endeavor to continue to make safe spaces for all.
‘SHe Said’ Delivers Rockin’ Story of Relationship Evolution
On January 15, the Intiman Theatre in Capitol Hill debuted SHe Said, a musical inspired by Trans love, resistance, and a whole lot of rock ‘n roll. Jen Ayers, along with a talented backing band, tells the true story of her partner coming out as transgender and the whirlwind of emotions that ensued. SHe Said is a heartfelt musical, touching on every feeling, heartbreak, and swirling thoughts that Jen experienced, along with the love for her partner that kept her aloft.
Queerly Beloved: We are Gathered Here to Laugh at This Thing Called Life
As a cultured Queer, I only recently learned straight people also do improv. Jet City Improv’s monthly Queerly Beloved, quite obviously, is not one of those instances.
Parker’s Pages: Waxing Off
We are starting the year off with a great read by one of our very own Creatives here at the Evergreen Echo! Waxing Off by E.E.W. Christman is a Queer, urban fantasy novella with elements of horror, self-exploration, and romance. It is a quick and delightful read, pulling you right into the action. Oh, and did I mention there are werewolves and pecan pancakes?
Tanggol Migrante Maintains Support of Filipino Migrants as US Mourns Renee Good
The new year came out swinging. The newspapers covering yet another US-backed coup in Venezuela barely cooled from printing when ICE officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed legal observer Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. As ICE activities escalate and continue unchecked, so too does the number of casualties. Grief and rage march hand-in-hand in the streets.
Soft Life, Hard Lessons: Swipe Left on My Spirit
Let me bring you into my soft-life laboratory, because post-divorce dating has a sense of humor I did not sign up for. I told myself I’d try something new. Stretch my faith. Dip a toe into modern romance.
So I downloaded Bumble and Hinge.
Yes. Me.
A grown woman with three children, all my edges, rooted faith, and a therapist who said, “We ain’t taking this ish into 2026.”
Queer Up-and-Comer Alise Garcia Chats Lezztalkaboutit’s Accessible Events
Back in November, I had the privilege of covering the Performative Femme Contest hosted by Alise Garcia of Lezztalkaboutit. It was a stunning display of Queer community. Recently, Alise and I met up for coffee to discuss the purpose of Lezztalkaboutit and what she has in store for the future. We also discussed the importance of community and what it takes to build one.
The Ink Drinker Brings Together Bibliophiles, Beverage Lovers in Ballard
The Ink Drinker, which opened last month, has a substantial number of books open to the public. Even if you forget your current or feel-good read, there is no excuse not to join in on the fun. Although you cannot check them out, rows and rows of books stand resolute as they call individuals inward. Even if one’s literary tastes differ from another, every person can appreciate and find refuge or a second home here.
What Does Accountability Really Mean?
The word “accountability” seems impossible to avoid for anyone paying attention. Repeatedly, people with power abuse their position. Repeatedly, communities clamor for accountability, a just outcome for all affected persons, and satisfying solutions that will excise the rot from which harm festers and breeds. It is difficult not to feel disillusioned by the usual wishy-washy or dismissive responses, feigned ignorance, and lack of material progress in terms of repairing harm and promoting safety. How are we supposed to hold people accountable, so to speak, if they won’t take accountability?
Perennial Conventions: An Invitation
As we approach the Winter Solstice, it is an appropriate time to remember the cyclical rhythms that guide our world. These rhythms are constant and the effects they have on us are evident, but in the pursuit of capital and perfect efficiency, we humans have lost the familiarity with the world around us…and I truly believe it is destroying our ability to cope.
Life on the Moon Powerfully Illuminates Familial, Autistic Expression
On December 14, I was lucky enough to attend the PNW premiere of Life on the Moon, a play written by Anna Tatelman, directed by Jeremy Radick, and produced by Baker Theater Workshop. Hosted at ReAct Theatre, Life on the Moon is a family drama that centers on the relationship between siblings Piper, an 18-year-old with autism, and her older brother Spencer, who has just returned home from the army for the holidays.
